§ 29. Mr. FARRELLasked the Postmaster-General the rules governing the continued employment as temporary postmen of telegraph messengers in Ireland who have passed the age for employment in that capacity; whether, seeing that boys who have served without complaint the office of boy messengers are turned out on the street unemployed in order to give employment to some discharged soldier from another district, he will arrange for an inquiry into the whole system with a view to a continuous service for these boys?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt has for years been the rule, both in Ireland and in Great Britain, that half the vacancies for established postmen should be allotted to boy messengers, and the other half to ex- 198 soldiers and ex-sailors, and it has been the practice to discharge, at the age of sixteen, boy messengers for whom no vacancies appeared likely to be available. Changes of organisation have, however, recently been made which, it is hoped, will allow almost all suitable boys who so desire being permanently retained in the service of the Department.
§ Mr. FARRELLWill this change soon come into operation?
§ Mr. SAMUELYes; it is now being gradually brought into operation, and great improvements have already been effected.